Child Star Millena Brandão Dies Tragically at 11 — Details

The young actress passed away last Friday after falling severely ill. Her parents have spoken out, and an investigation into whether she received adequate care has been launched.

Millena Brandão passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025. She was known for her roles in the Netflix teen drama series "Sintonia," and the soap operas "A infância de Romeu e Julieta" and "A Caverna Encantada."

The actress died nine days after suffering severe headaches and leg pain, drowsiness, loss of appetite, and fainting. As soon as she began showing symptoms, her parents took her to the municipal Emergency Care Unit, after which she stayed in two state hospitals.

During this time, Millena's health steadily worsened though she was repeatedly sent back home. Doctors initially suspected dengue fever and a urinary tract infection, both of which were ruled out.

They've also suggested Millena may have had a brain tumor, a cyst, an edema, or a clot, as a five centimeter mass was discovered in her brain following a CT scan, but this has yet to be confirmed. Her exact cause of death also remains undetermined.

Millena went on to suffer a total of 13 cardiac arrests and 11 respiratory arrests before being declared brain dead. "I said that if we were to let her little heart stop beating on its own, we would suffer more, and so would she. And we asked for the machines to be turned off," her mother, Thays Brandão, said.

She was buried on Sunday, May 4, 2025, and is survived by her parents and her 2-year-old sister. The São Paulo Municipal and State Health Departments released statements announcing their investigation into Millena's medical care.